Piper Sandler Upgrades Block, Adjusts PayPal Rating
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 30 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Block Upgrade: Piper Sandler has double upgraded Block from Underweight to Overweight, raising the price target from $58 to $100, indicating strong confidence in its growth prospects and likely attracting more investor interest.
- PayPal Rating Adjustment: PayPal's rating has been downgraded to Neutral with a price target reduced from $46 to $42, suggesting that despite its low valuation, unresolved take-rate and transaction margin pressures may impact its short-term performance.
- Affirm Holdings Outlook: Piper Sandler rates Affirm Holdings as Overweight with a price target of $103, reflecting positive expectations regarding its profitability and market position, which could draw more investor attention.
- Multiple Financial Stocks Upgraded: Several financial stocks, including American Express, Capital One, and Mastercard, have been rated Overweight with price targets of $396, $254, and $597 respectively, showcasing analysts' confidence in their network durability and service growth.
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Analyst Views on XYZ
Wall Street analysts forecast XYZ stock price to rise
30 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
3 Hold
2 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 78.920
Low
55.00
Averages
86.51
High
108.00
Current: 78.920
Low
55.00
Averages
86.51
High
108.00
About XYZ
Block, Inc. builds technology to increase access to the global economy. The Company operates through two segments: Square and Cash App. The Square includes managed payment services, software solutions, hardware, and financial services offered to sellers, excluding those that involve Cash App. The Cash App segment includes the financial tools available to individuals within the mobile Cash App, including peer-to-peer payments, bitcoin and stock investments. The Cash App also includes Cash App Card, which is linked to customer stored balances that customers can use to pay for purchases or withdraw funds from an ATM. Cash App also includes the BNPL platform. Its Afterpay business is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. Its TIDAL business is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Its Bitkey business is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto business is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Bitcoin ETFs Experience Record Net Outflows in June
- Bitcoin Price Decline: In June, Bitcoin's price fell to $58,000, reflecting a bearish market sentiment that may undermine investor confidence and future investment decisions.
- Record ETF Outflows: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced $4.5 billion in net outflows in June, marking the worst month since their launch in January 2024, surpassing the previous record of $3.48 billion set in February 2025 by approximately 29%, indicating heightened investor concerns about the market.
- Short Interest Trends: Among firms with market capitalizations above $2 billion, Cleanspark's short interest rose to 33.04% from 32.76% the previous month, suggesting a pessimistic outlook on its future performance, while Block's short interest remained low at 3.75%, indicating stronger market confidence.
- Short Interest Rankings: In the crypto stocks with market caps over $2 billion, Cleanspark, MARA Holdings, and Bitdeer Technologies Group led with short interests of 33.04%, 26.90%, and 22.78%, respectively, reflecting varying market perceptions that could influence their financing and operational strategies.
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Block, Inc. to Release Q2 2026 Financial Results on August 5
- Earnings Release Schedule: Block, Inc. will release its Q2 2026 financial results on August 5, 2026, after market close, providing investors with the latest financial performance data to assess the company's operational status.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call and earnings webcast on the same day at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the financial results in depth and address investor questions, enhancing transparency and investor confidence.
- Investor Participation Method: Investors can register to participate in the conference call or listen to the live audio webcast by visiting the Events & Presentations section of Block's Investor Relations website, ensuring broad investor engagement and information access.
- Company Overview: Block, Inc. focuses on building technology to increase access to the global economy, with brands like Square, Cash App, and Afterpay playing significant roles in commerce, financial services, and consumer spending management, showcasing the company's diversified presence in the fintech sector.
See More
U.S. Stocks Surge with Tech Sector Leading Gains
- Strong Quarterly Performance: The S&P 500 rose 0.8% and the Nasdaq 100 jumped 1.7%, marking their best quarterly performances since 2020, which indicates strong investor confidence in tech stocks and may attract further investments.
- Semiconductor Sector Highlights: The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index recorded its best quarter ever, with the VanEck Semiconductor ETF climbing 3.7% and a year-to-date gain of 82%, reflecting ongoing market focus on AI capital expenditures and driving stock prices of related companies higher.
- Stablecoin Collaboration: Visa, Stripe, and Bank of New York Mellon are among several financial firms joining forces to launch a stablecoin, signaling further consolidation in the fintech sector that could reshape the payments landscape and enhance these companies' competitive positions.
- Divergent Investor Sentiment: While retail sentiment for SPY and DIA was bearish, QQQ sentiment was bullish, indicating differing market perceptions that could influence future investment decisions and market trends.
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Piper Sandler Upgrades Block to Overweight, Sees Strong Earnings Potential
- Rating Upgrade: Piper Sandler upgraded Block from ‘Underweight’ to ‘Overweight,’ asserting that the current valuation understates the durability of its earnings outlook, raising the price target from $58 to $100, implying about a 28% upside.
- Growth Potential: Analysts highlighted that Block's monetization efforts within its Square and Cash App ecosystems are expected to sustain double-digit growth, despite challenges such as slower network volume growth and pressure on digital payments monetization.
- Cost Control and AI Efficiency: Piper anticipates that Block's ongoing cost discipline and AI-driven operational efficiencies will further enhance margins, thereby accelerating adjusted operating income growth and strengthening the company's long-term earnings profile.
- Bullish Market Sentiment: Although Block's stock fell nearly 2% in Tuesday trading, retail sentiment on Stocktwits remains ‘bullish,’ with message volume increasing by 150% over the past 30 days, indicating investor confidence in its future performance.
See More
Piper Sandler Upgrades Block, Adjusts PayPal Rating
- Block Upgrade: Piper Sandler has double upgraded Block from Underweight to Overweight, raising the price target from $58 to $100, indicating strong confidence in its growth prospects and likely attracting more investor interest.
- PayPal Rating Adjustment: PayPal's rating has been downgraded to Neutral with a price target reduced from $46 to $42, suggesting that despite its low valuation, unresolved take-rate and transaction margin pressures may impact its short-term performance.
- Affirm Holdings Outlook: Piper Sandler rates Affirm Holdings as Overweight with a price target of $103, reflecting positive expectations regarding its profitability and market position, which could draw more investor attention.
- Multiple Financial Stocks Upgraded: Several financial stocks, including American Express, Capital One, and Mastercard, have been rated Overweight with price targets of $396, $254, and $597 respectively, showcasing analysts' confidence in their network durability and service growth.
See More
Major Rating Updates on Wall Street
- Netflix Advertising Opportunity: Loop reiterates Netflix as a buy, noting that the advertising business contributed about 240bps of growth last year and is expected to grow significantly, highlighting the company's potential in the advertising market.
- Nvidia Earnings Upgrade: CLSA raises Nvidia's price target from $300 to $360, with earnings estimates for FY27-29 increased by 21%-53%, reflecting growing confidence in a longer upcycle for the computing industry.
- Block Rating Upgrade: Piper Sandler upgrades Block from underweight to overweight with a $100 price target, citing margin upside, which indicates a positive outlook for the company's future growth.
- Comcast Value Unlocking: Deutsche Bank upgrades Comcast from hold to buy, stating that the recent spin-off will unlock value, demonstrating positive changes in the company's capital structure.
See More
Bitcoin ETFs Experience Record Net Outflows in June
- Bitcoin Price Decline: In June, Bitcoin's price fell to $58,000, reflecting a bearish market sentiment that may undermine investor confidence and future investment decisions.
- Record ETF Outflows: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced $4.5 billion in net outflows in June, marking the worst month since their launch in January 2024, surpassing the previous record of $3.48 billion set in February 2025 by approximately 29%, indicating heightened investor concerns about the market.
- Short Interest Trends: Among firms with market capitalizations above $2 billion, Cleanspark's short interest rose to 33.04% from 32.76% the previous month, suggesting a pessimistic outlook on its future performance, while Block's short interest remained low at 3.75%, indicating stronger market confidence.
- Short Interest Rankings: In the crypto stocks with market caps over $2 billion, Cleanspark, MARA Holdings, and Bitdeer Technologies Group led with short interests of 33.04%, 26.90%, and 22.78%, respectively, reflecting varying market perceptions that could influence their financing and operational strategies.
See More
Block, Inc. to Release Q2 2026 Financial Results on August 5
- Earnings Release Schedule: Block, Inc. will release its Q2 2026 financial results on August 5, 2026, after market close, providing investors with the latest financial performance data to assess the company's operational status.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call and earnings webcast on the same day at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the financial results in depth and address investor questions, enhancing transparency and investor confidence.
- Investor Participation Method: Investors can register to participate in the conference call or listen to the live audio webcast by visiting the Events & Presentations section of Block's Investor Relations website, ensuring broad investor engagement and information access.
- Company Overview: Block, Inc. focuses on building technology to increase access to the global economy, with brands like Square, Cash App, and Afterpay playing significant roles in commerce, financial services, and consumer spending management, showcasing the company's diversified presence in the fintech sector.
See More
U.S. Stocks Surge with Tech Sector Leading Gains
- Strong Quarterly Performance: The S&P 500 rose 0.8% and the Nasdaq 100 jumped 1.7%, marking their best quarterly performances since 2020, which indicates strong investor confidence in tech stocks and may attract further investments.
- Semiconductor Sector Highlights: The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index recorded its best quarter ever, with the VanEck Semiconductor ETF climbing 3.7% and a year-to-date gain of 82%, reflecting ongoing market focus on AI capital expenditures and driving stock prices of related companies higher.
- Stablecoin Collaboration: Visa, Stripe, and Bank of New York Mellon are among several financial firms joining forces to launch a stablecoin, signaling further consolidation in the fintech sector that could reshape the payments landscape and enhance these companies' competitive positions.
- Divergent Investor Sentiment: While retail sentiment for SPY and DIA was bearish, QQQ sentiment was bullish, indicating differing market perceptions that could influence future investment decisions and market trends.
See More
Piper Sandler Upgrades Block to Overweight, Sees Strong Earnings Potential
- Rating Upgrade: Piper Sandler upgraded Block from ‘Underweight’ to ‘Overweight,’ asserting that the current valuation understates the durability of its earnings outlook, raising the price target from $58 to $100, implying about a 28% upside.
- Growth Potential: Analysts highlighted that Block's monetization efforts within its Square and Cash App ecosystems are expected to sustain double-digit growth, despite challenges such as slower network volume growth and pressure on digital payments monetization.
- Cost Control and AI Efficiency: Piper anticipates that Block's ongoing cost discipline and AI-driven operational efficiencies will further enhance margins, thereby accelerating adjusted operating income growth and strengthening the company's long-term earnings profile.
- Bullish Market Sentiment: Although Block's stock fell nearly 2% in Tuesday trading, retail sentiment on Stocktwits remains ‘bullish,’ with message volume increasing by 150% over the past 30 days, indicating investor confidence in its future performance.
See More
Piper Sandler Upgrades Block, Adjusts PayPal Rating
- Block Upgrade: Piper Sandler has double upgraded Block from Underweight to Overweight, raising the price target from $58 to $100, indicating strong confidence in its growth prospects and likely attracting more investor interest.
- PayPal Rating Adjustment: PayPal's rating has been downgraded to Neutral with a price target reduced from $46 to $42, suggesting that despite its low valuation, unresolved take-rate and transaction margin pressures may impact its short-term performance.
- Affirm Holdings Outlook: Piper Sandler rates Affirm Holdings as Overweight with a price target of $103, reflecting positive expectations regarding its profitability and market position, which could draw more investor attention.
- Multiple Financial Stocks Upgraded: Several financial stocks, including American Express, Capital One, and Mastercard, have been rated Overweight with price targets of $396, $254, and $597 respectively, showcasing analysts' confidence in their network durability and service growth.
See More
Major Rating Updates on Wall Street
- Netflix Advertising Opportunity: Loop reiterates Netflix as a buy, noting that the advertising business contributed about 240bps of growth last year and is expected to grow significantly, highlighting the company's potential in the advertising market.
- Nvidia Earnings Upgrade: CLSA raises Nvidia's price target from $300 to $360, with earnings estimates for FY27-29 increased by 21%-53%, reflecting growing confidence in a longer upcycle for the computing industry.
- Block Rating Upgrade: Piper Sandler upgrades Block from underweight to overweight with a $100 price target, citing margin upside, which indicates a positive outlook for the company's future growth.
- Comcast Value Unlocking: Deutsche Bank upgrades Comcast from hold to buy, stating that the recent spin-off will unlock value, demonstrating positive changes in the company's capital structure.
See More
